Global leaders gathered at Assumption University of Thailand (AU) to rethink sustainability, adaptability and the future of work as the 40th Annual International Organization Development Association (IODA) Conference brought approximately 100 participants from 20 countries to AU’s Hua Mak Campus in Bangkok, 15–17 October 2026.
Co-hosted under the theme “OD for Sustainability: Wisdom, Adaptability, Innovation” the gathering connected organization development (OD) practitioners, corporate leaders, consultants, academics and students to consider a question with growing urgency: how can organizations succeed without losing sight of the people, communities and natural systems on which they depend?
A Thai Welcome to a Global Conversation
The conference began with a traditional Bai Sri welcome ceremony and ribbon-cutting. Dr. Apichart Intravisit, Program Director of AU’s Master of Arts in Arts and Design, served as master of ceremonies. Opening remarks from Rev. Bro. Sirichai Fonseka, Ph.D., f.s.g., President of Assumption University, and Peter Kalmar, President of IODA, emphasized international friendship, shared responsibility and values-led leadership.
Jacqueline Wong, Founder and Senior Partner of Sequoia Group and Dean of the Sustainability Institute in Singapore, delivered the opening keynote, “Co-Creating a Better World: From Human-Centric to Life-Centric OD.” She challenged delegates to look beyond workplace performance and consider how organizations can contribute to the flourishing of wider living systems.
The Wisdom sessions brought distinctive perspectives to the table. Ann Clancy explored cultural evolution; Tímea Ágota Rózsa drew lessons for teams and leaders from forests and permaculture; Lakshmidevi Vasudevan examined embodied self-awareness; and Michelle de Bruyn shared insights from ecological restoration networks in South Africa. Roderick Barnett, Cecille Essary, Jim Maddox and Isaac Selvaraj Peter added practical approaches to organizational learning, leadership and development.
AU Researchers Take the International Stage
For Assumption University, one of the highlights was seeing its own graduate scholars contribute to the international research exchange. From the Graduate School of Business and Advanced Technology Management, Sukmeet Sohal and Seng Nu Mai shared work on organizational readiness and strategic agility in Thailand’s energy sector, with Dr. Somchai Tantasanee named as a research contributor.
Other AU presentations included May Thu Zaw’s research on student well-being, along with studies by David Charles Smith, Thanida Apinankul, Srithai Srisaichon and Chonlanutda Pethchaiyaweth on psychological safety, business expansion, inspiring leadership and corporate shuttle-driver safety. The NHG Population Health Group, Singapore, and the Centre for Healthcare Innovation presented two posters titled “Growing Culture from the Ground Up: Embedding Organisational Values in Population Health Through Sustainable, Leadership-Led Practices” and “Designing Tomorrow’s Workforce: A Future-Oriented Approach to Workforce Transformation,” respectively.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Marrisa Fernando was named as a contributing faculty member on several of these graduate research projects. The poster programme helped place AU research alongside work from practitioners and institutions across the region.
Innovation Meets Everyday Leadership
On 16 October, conference chair Dr. Kitikorn Dowpiset opened the second day, devoted to Adaptability and Innovation.
The keynote came from Dr. Piti Tantakasem, Director and Chief Executive Officer of TMBThanachart Bank Public Company Limited, who drew on business transformation to examine leadership, organizational resilience and the challenge of remaining relevant amid uncertainty.
Concurrent sessions moved from ideas to practice. Claudia Raffo and Jim Maddox explored collective sense-making; Jacqueline Wong and Zafirah Mohammed considered how living organizations can thrive over time; Susan E. Stewart addressed difficult community problems; and Bei He and Ann Clancy examined teacher performance and collaboration.
Other presenters included Sasha Farley on avoiding unintended harm in OD, James “Gus” Gustafson on both-and leadership, Genae Young on artificial intelligence and automation, and Oleg Komlik on heat stress and sustainable work.
The international programme also featured Ulrike Rodgers and Enrique J. Zaldivar on cultural competence, Sonya Sharma and Charusmitha Rao on peer-led leadership, and Wenhua Gao and Zhang Ping on distributed leadership. An open-space session facilitated by Peter Kalmar gave participants room to raise emerging questions that mattered to their own organizations.
Thai Culture, New Connections
Learning continued after the formal sessions. A Thai Temple Festival Gala Dinner at AU’s Coronation Building combined local traditions, music and networking, while the Saul A. Silverman and Richard Beckhard Awards recognized contributions to the profession.
A subsequent international networking evening featured a silent auction supporting IODA’s Scholarship Fund and the symbolic passing of the IODA Quilt to the team preparing the 2027 conference in the Netherlands.
The final day took delegates beyond the classroom for a company visit to Air Orchids and a cultural stop at the Wat Lam Phaya floating market. The programme concluded with a visit to Assumption University’s Suvarnabhumi Campus and closing ceremonies, giving international participants a wider view of Thailand and their university host.
A University-Wide Effort
The event drew on the work of AU’s conference committee, chaired by Dr. Kitikorn Dowpiset with Asst. Prof. Dr. Marrisa Fernando as vice chair. Committee and scholarly-publication contributors included Dr. Somchai Tantasanee, Dr. Boonyapak Sirirat, Dr. Bhumiphat Gilitwala, Dr. Sirichai Preudhukulpradab, Dr Apichart Intravisit, Dr Chompu Nuangjamnong, Dr Taminee Shinasharkey and Dr. Qizhen Gu.
More than a milestone conference, the partnership gave AU students and faculty direct access to international expertise while allowing visiting delegates to experience Thai hospitality, scholarship and business practice firsthand.
As the IODA community looks ahead to the Netherlands in August 2027, the Bangkok gathering leaves new connections and practical ideas for building organizations that are more resilient, responsible and ready for change.
WRITER: THE AU LIBRARY
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